A dial input device is provided. A dial is rotatably arranged on a support member and has a plurality of kinds of characters circumferentially allocated thereto. n (n>/=1) first contact member(s) arranged in a manner concentric with the dial is/are circumferentially divided into s (s>/=2) divisional parts and formed by electrically conductive portions and electrically non-conductive portions arranged in a mixed manner. A second contact member is arranged in a manner concentric with the dial and circumferentially divided into m (m>/=2) parts each of which is formed by an electrically conductive portion alone. nxs first brushes are arranged on the dial in a manner circumferentially corresponding to the s divisional parts of each of the n first contact member(s). A second brush is arranged on the dial in a manner corresponding to the second contact member. The characters are expressed by k (k</=2(nxs)xm) identifying patterns out of 2(nxs)xm identifying patterns formed by a combination of bit patterns of nxs bits generated by contact between the electrically conductive portions and the electrically non-conductive portions of each of the divisional parts of the first contact member and the nxs first brushes, and m grouping patterns generated by contact between the m parts of the second contact member and the second brush.
